Story and Pictures by Dr. Yvonne D. Nelson If you literally know nothing about my situation, what makes you think that you are qualiied to make a decision about what concerns me, especially without my input? In 2012, Mother Georgia King began asking questions like that and she’s still asking them today. “Being on the front line has been interesting,” said King on Saturday, February 22, 2020, during the 8th anniversary celebration of the Memphis Bus Riders Union, an organization she founded in 2012 to ight for better bus service for the people who depend on mass transit services. “The work continues to go on,” said King referring to the efforts of Memphis BRU Secretary/Treasurer Justin Davis and co-chairs Sammie Hunter and Cynthia Bailey. Davis opened the meeting by thanking those who took time to come to the celebration held on the 4th loor of the newly renovated beautiful Crosstown Concourse housed in the former Sears-Roebuck building near Cleveland and Autumn Avenues. (Above) Mother Georgia King (seated) founded the Memphis Bus Riders Union in 2012. (Below) Rhodes College Intern, Ace Cole (standing center behind table) volunteered time to help ensure the 8th anniversary of the MBRU was a huge success. “On this day, our 8th anniversary, we have numerous made several accomplishments to be proud of in 2019,” said Davis who mentioned that he had found out early in the week that the organization could add securing its irst dedicated funding source to its growing list of things to be proud of. “We’ve tackled everything from bus stop locations to routes, terminals, and funding and are exceptionally proud that we won the ight to obtain bus passes for Shelby County High School students and their parents last year.” The group did express dismay at the fact that every mayoral candidate except Strickland took them up on their offer to ride the bus and mentioned that more work is needed on route patterns, night and weekend routes, and creating routes were none currently exist among other things. For more information or to make a donation, please email memphisbru@gmail.com or phone (901) 205-9737. 30
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